Rossknecht plans to listen to what constituents want

Ron Rossknecht of Hill City is running for Pennington County District 1 commissioner.

Rossknecht said he has handled tense situations that arise between growth in the county and maintaining the best type of communities. According to Rossknecht, he is knowledgeable about county government. In particular he knows about property assessment, planning and zoning and the register of deeds.

As a small business owner and manager of Sheridan Lake Resort, Rossknecht commented he knows the value of the dollar and understands how to prioritize expenditures and develop a budget.

He has a well-established appraisal firm that is located at Old World Plaza in Hill City. His experience appraising real estate for the last 30 years is something that he can bring to the table.

He has worked with various people and understands what people go through with an appeal process.

He has represented a company at the Board of Commissioner meeting and doesn’t think there is anyone on the board now with experience or knowledge of appraising. He thinks that would be a good tool to have for the board to make decisions.

Rossknecht has lived in Pennington County for 60 years and in District 1 since 1976. He’s interested i giving back to the community that has given so much to him and said his main role is to listen to his constituents.

“They tell the commissioner what they want,” he said.

In his mind, it’s a county commissioner’s job to do what other people want and not what he or she wants to do.

Rossknecht has support behind him although he didn’t know people felt that way. People have told him that it is time for a change.

He’s had to decide if he wanted to sit at meetings and get into a“hornet’s nest”.

“As a public servant there is some monetary incentive but not much,” Rossknecht said.

Over the years, he has tried to make Hill City a better place to live.

He has taken part in the Heart of the Hills Economic Development Corporation as the treasurer and is a member of both the Hill City Lions Club and the Tin City Masonic Lodge No. 112. His past service includes volunteer firefighter with the Johnson Siding Fire Department, Boy Scout Troop 44 assistant troop leader, president of the Hill City Lions Club, Zone Chairman of District 5SW Zone 4 Lions International and past president of the Southern Hills Boys and Girls Club.

He has helped by raising funds through the Lion’s Club to do different projects and brought the mobile dental program in Hill City through the helps of Delta Dental. Last year, there was around $26,000 done in dental procedures through that program. The Tin City Masonic Lodge raises funds to get the mobile dental program to Hill City.

With the Johnson Siding Fire Department, he has assisted with many wildfires and house fires.

Being president of the Boys & Girls Club was all about community service.

His plan is to make District 1 a little bit better. District 1 is a large district that covers West of Rapid City, North of Custer County, and west of the Wyoming border.

The primary race for the Board of Commissioners is on June 5 next year.

In a written statement, Rossknecht said he would work for an effective and efficient county government that serves the needs of District 1 constituents.

George Ferebee currently holds the District 1 seat now. His term ends at the end of 2018.

Rossknecht believes that every commissioner right now has a strong point, but he says there is always room for improvement.

He thinks the county commissioner can do more with what they have. His platform is about common sense. He doesn’t think government should spend money unwisely but be effective and efficient.

Rossknecht doesn’t expect there to be many people to run for the District I county commissioner’s seat.

Anyone wishing to run has until March of next year to make a formal announcement.